We stressed that the mandate of the Special Rapporteur on Belarus is an important mechanism for assessing the overall human rights situation, responding to systemic human rights violations and maintaining international attention on the country, and called on the Human Rights Council to extend the mandate for another year. // 08.07.2023
We state that the initiative of the Prosecutor General's Office is an unjustified interference of the state in the personal life of citizens. It contradicts the international obligations of the Republic of Belarus in the sphere of human rights, including sexual and reproductive rights, as well as poses a threat to various vulnerable groups (including, but not limited to the LGBTQ community, teenagers, women). // 03.07.2023
In an online appeal prepared jointly with Belarusian Association of Human Rights Lawyers, we described the repressive campaign that the Belarusian government is waging against lawyers who defend human rights. // 26.06.2023
Belarusian authorities should immediately end the ill-treatment of Maria Kalesnikava and all the other political prisoners, 24 international and Belarusian rights groups said today. Kalesnikava is being held in solitary confinement and is not receiving adequate medical care despite serious health problems. She is being denied essential foods and medicines. Since mid-February, Kalesnikava has been denied any communication with her family, including calls, letters, or visits. Her lawyer has had no access to Kalesnikava since February 7, despite repeated attempts to contact her. // 12.06.2023
The practice of recording “repentance videos” within the walls of the law school threatens with its long-term consequences in the legal community, shows disrespect for law and encouragement of non-legal approaches, means and methods by the administration of the faculty. All this forms completely inadequate ideas among students about law in general, about human rights and the feasibility of their realization. It is difficult to imagine that future lawyers, having gained such “experience” in the implementation of basic human rights, will be able to adequately understand the essence of these rights and protect these rights in the future. The consequences of actions to destroy the basic foundations of legal education, coming from the administration of higher educational institutions, are very deep and difficult to eliminate, therefore it is especially important that these actions receive a principal assessment.
// 31.05.2023
